Continuous-flow dryer for granular material

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a continuous-flow dryer apparatus for granular material for use within a conventional circular storage bin having a floor and a material-evacuating unit: the apparatus having a reservoir for receiving moist granular material, the reservoir disposed above the bin floor and about the periphery of the bin and fluidly communicating with a drying column having perforated walls, the reservoir funnelling the material through the column toward the axis of the bin; having further a heaterblower device for supplying heated air fro percolation through the perforated walls of the column and material therein for absorbing moisture therefrom; and having also a discharge unit connecting the column for removing the dried material from the column and spreading the material upon the bin floor for evacuation therefrom.

Muted States Patent 1 3,634,949 Loulrs [451 Jan. 18, 1972 [541CUNTINUOUS-IFLUW DRYER FUR FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLIcATIoNs GRANULARMATERIAL 849,830 9/1952 Germany ..34/65 [72] Inventor: Robert A. Louks,Gllman, Iowa 50106 Primary Examiner Frederick L. Maneson [22] Filed:Dec. 31, 1969 Assistant Examiner-Harry B. Ramey APPLNO: 889,417Attorney-l-1enderson8zStrom 57 ABSTRACT [52 us. Cl ..34/174 [51 1 Int.Cl ..F26b 17/14 relates a commuws apparatus for [58] Field of SearchReferences Cited granular material for use within a conventionalcircular storage bin having a floor and a material-evacuating unit: theapparatus having a reservoir for receiving moist granular material, thereservoir disposed above the bin floor and about the periphery of thebin and fluidly communicating with a dry ing column having perforatedwalls, the reservoir funnelling the material through the column towardthe axis of the bin; having further a heater-blower device for supplyingheated air fro percolation through the perforated walls of the columnand material therein for absorbing moisture therefrom; and having also adischarge unit connecting the column for removing the dried materialfrom the column and spreading the material upon the bin floor forevacuation therefrom.

12 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJMWWZ 7 3,634,949

' sum 1 0F 2 CONTINUOUS-FLOW DRYER FOR GRANULAR MATERIAL BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION Two popular forms of drying granular material are the bin1 0 layer dryer and the batch-in-bin dryer. The former, equipped with afan and a heat unit, dries the granular material in layers. Heated airis forced through the granular material thereby absorbing moisture andthus reducing the moisture content in the first layer, a second layer isadded and the drying process recommences. This process of adding layersand forcing air therethrough continues until the bin is filled. Theheated air is forced into the bin under the first layer, therefore it isobvious that the lower levels in the bin are subjected to the dryingprocess several times. The bin layer dryer requires a substantial amountof time to dry a full bin of granular material. The lower levels can notbe overheated or overdried because of possible damage to the kernel andloss of profit, therefore requiring the constant attention of anoperator to prevent overdrying and overheating.

To overcome the disadvantages of the bin layer dryer, operators arechanging to a batch-in-bin dryer system. Herein the granular material isdried in a layer on the bottom perforated floor of the dryer bin, andthen transferred to a storage bin. The speed of drying is increasedconsiderably because higher temperatures are utilized, higher velocitiesof air are possible, and each layer is dried only once. One of thedisadvantages of this system is that each batch is dried as an entityrequiring each batch to be thoroughly dried before removal andreplacement by a second moist batch.

The apparatus of this invention is designed to employ all the advantagesof the batch-in-bin dryer system while permitting the addition of moistgranular material at the operator's convenience and not only when theprior batch has been completed and removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus fortreating granular material in a circular storage bin having a wall, alower floor, a material feeder auger device, and a material dischargeauger device for removing granular material from the bin: the apparatusincluding a conical-shaped upper floor adapted to support granularmaterial and to feed the material downward toward the center of thefloor; a funnel unit for forming with the upper floor a reservoir forreceiving moist material above the upper portion of the conical floorand for forming a drying column for receiving and treating the granularmaterial flowing downwardly from the reservoir along the lower portionof the upper floor, the lower portion being perforated; a heaterblowerunit for percolating heated, dry air through the column therebyabsorbing the moisture from the granular material; and a discharge unitfor removing the material from the column to the bin floor for coolingand subsequent evacuation from the bin.

It is an objectof this invention to provide a novel apparatus for dryinggranular material within a conventional circular storage bin.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus fordrying granular material wherein the material being dried issubstantially constantly flowing.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a granularmaterial drying apparatus wherein a batch of moist material may be addedon top of a previously added batch without affecting the drying processor the uniformity of the dried material.

It is still another object of this invention to provide acontinuous-flow drying apparatus wherein higher temperatures and highervelocities of air may be applied to the drying material to increasedrying time efficiency without damaging the material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a continuousgrain-drying apparatus wherein granular material to be dried can beadded to the dryer, while other material is being dried, and driedmaterial is evacuated, all steps being simultaneous.

An object of this invention is to provide a grain-drying apparatushaving a sensing device to automatically deenergize the air blower andheater should the temperature exceed the desired maximum, therebyavoiding damage to the material and negating constant operatorattention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grain-drying apparatuscapable of simultaneously discharging dry material from a dryingchamber, evenly distributing the material on a bin floor for cooling andaerating, and evacuating already cooled material from the bin forstorage.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a bin for dryinggranular material which is capable of serving as a storage bin.

A further object of this invention is to provide a grain-dryingapparatus that is capable of fulfilling the foregoing objects, yet issimple to use, economical to manufacture, rugged in construction, andefficient to operate.

These objects and other features and advantages will become readilyapparent upon referring to the following description when taken inconjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of aconventional grain bin within which this invention has been installed,with certain parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical sectional view of the apparatus of thisinvention;

FIG. 3 is a plan fragmentary view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2,with certain parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the discharge portionof this invention;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 55 in FIG. 4with certain parts shown in an alternate posi' tion by the use of dottedlines;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line 77in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of the heat control system for theapparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the granular materialfeed-removal system for the apparatus of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsand particularly to FIG. 1, the continuous-flow granular material dryingapparatus of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10.The apparatus I0 is used primarily for the drying, curing, aeration andstorage of granular material 11, and is shown installed within aconventional grain storage bin 12.

The storage bin 12 includes a circular sidewall 13 and a conicallyshaped roof 14 mounted thereon. An opening 16 is formed in the apex ofthe roof l4, and a tubular sleeve 17, communicating the interior 18 ofthe bin 12 with the exterior, is inserted therein. A hopper 19 isrotatably mounted inside the bin 12, having a top end 21 communicatingwith the sleeve 17, and having a base end 22 disposed verticallydownward therefrom, as viewed in FIG. 2. An elevator 23 is disposedabove the roof 14, for the purpose of supplying granular material 11 tothe hopper 19 from a transport vehicle 24.

Mounted near the top of the sidewall 13 is a circular track 26 (FIG. 2),extending completely around the bin 12. A radially disposed, granularmaterial feeder 27 is disposed in the bin 12, with one auger end 28thereof riding on the track 26, and with the other end 29 thereofsecured to the hopper 19. The feeder tube is provided with a duct 31 andan open longitudinal end 32 for feeding the granular material 11 fromthe hopper 19 to the interior 18 of the bin 12. The auger 33 is axiallymounted in the feeder tube, and is driven by a motor 34 mounted on theside of the hopper 19. Rotation of the auger end 28 on the track 26effects rotation of the feeder 27 in a circular manner around the bin12. The purpose and operations of the feeder 27 will be describedhereinafter.

An upper, conically shaped floor 36 (FIG. 2) is mounted in the bin 12,and supported therein by a substructure 37. The upper floor 36 isadapted to support a quantity of granular material 11, and separates theinterior 18 of the bin 12 into an upper compartment 38 and a lowercompartment 39. The peripheral edge 41 (FIG. 3) of the floor 36 ispositioned adjacent the sidewall 13 of the bin 12, and the floor 36extends downwardly and inwardly therefrom toward the longitudinal axisof the bin 12. The upper portion 42 of the floor 36 is of solidconstruction, and the lower portion 43 (FIG. 2) is of per foratedconstruction. The perforations in the lower portion 43 are of a size toallow air to circulate therethrough and yet prevent granular material 11from falling through. A plurality of hatches 44 (FIGS, 2 and 3)coextensive with the upper floor 36 are annularly spaced about the floor36 and pivotally connected thereto by a plurality of hinges 46. Thepurpose of the hatches 44 will be hereinafter discussed.

The substructure 37 includes a plurality of angle irons 47 connected tothe upper floor 36, and radially extending upward from the dischargeunit 48, as hereinafter described, to connect a plurality of verticallydisposed columns 49 mounted adjacent the sidewalls 13. A plurality ofhorizontally disposed beams 51 (FIG. 1) interconnect the columns 49 atthe upper ends 52 (FIG. 2) thereof about the periphery of the bin 12.Each of the angle irons 47 is also laterally braced by a plurality ofbraces 53 (FIG. 1).

An annular reservoir 54 (FIG. 2) and drying column 56 is formed in theupper compartment 38 of the bin 12 by a funnel-shaped structure 57vertically disposed above the perforated portion 43 of the upper floor36. The funnel structure 57 is suspended above the upper floor 36 by aplurality of slanted supports 55 penetrating the upper floor 36. Thelower end 60 of the supports 55 connect to the vertical columns 49 andthe upper ends 65 thereof, connect to the funnel structure 57. Generallythe funnel structure 57 includes a perforated conical base 58 connectedto a vertically disposed circular wall 59.

The perforated conical base 58 of the structure 57 conforms to theperforated portion 43 of the upper floor 36 and extends parallelthereto. The base 58 is vertically spaced from the perforated floorportion 43 forming a relatively narrow, annular, sloped column 56therebetween through which column 56 granular material 11 flows. As thegranular material 11 flows through the column 56, warm, dry airpercolates through the perforated floor 43 and base 58 contacting thematerial 11 and absorbs the moisture therefrom as hereinafter described.An opening 61 is formed in the apex of the conical base 58 communicatingthe interior of the structure 57 with the column base 62 and thedischarge unit 48. A cover 63 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided to span theopening 61, the purpose of the cover 63 to be hereinafter described.

The circular funnel wall 59 substantially parallels the sidewall 13 ofthe bin 12 and connects the conical base 58 at the peripheral edge 64thereof. The circular wall 59 extends upward from the peripheral edge 64of the base 58 to a line 66 paralleling the granular material feeder 27and disposed immediately therebelow. The wall 59 forms the inner wall ofthe annular reservoir 54 defined by the wall 59, the solid floor portion42, and the sidewall 13 of the bin 12. An opening 67 annularly disposedadjacent the peripheral edge 64 of the base 58 fluidly connects theslope-floored reservoir 54 and the drying column 56 to facilitate themovement of granular material 11 from the reservoir 54 to the dryingcolumn 56 by gravity.

A blower system 68 (FIGS. 1 and 2) having a heating unit (not shown)installed therein, is mounted to the sidewall 13 immediately below theupper floor 36, and is fluidly communicable with the lower compartment39 through a vent 69 traversing an aperture (not shown) formed in thesidewall 13. The blower system 68 supplies warm, dry air to the lowercompartment 39, which air is directed substantially parallel to thesidewall 13 by an elbow 71 connecting the vent 69. The air circulatesabout the lower compartment 39 and percolates upwardly through theperforated floor portion 43, the granular material 11 in the dryingcolumn 56, and the perforated conical base 58. The blower-heating system68 is controlled by a heat-sensing device 72 which attaches theperforated base 58 adjacent the peripheral edge 64 thereof. The sensingdevice and its operation will be described in more detail hereinafter.

For removal of the dried granular material 11 from the drying column 56to the lower compartment 39, (FIG. 2) a discharge unit 48 is provided.The discharge unit 48 includes an enclosed chute 73 connecting the upperfloor 36 at the apex thereof and depending therefrom. The chute 73fluidly communicates the base 62 of the drying column 56 with the lowerbin compartment 39 for funnelling the granular material 11 thereto.Traversing the chute 73 is a slidably mounted. horizontally disposedplate 74 (FIG. 5) having an aperture 76 centrally formed therein. Theplate 74 performs as a valve restricting the flow of granular material11 from the column 56 through the chute 73 to that permitted by theaperture 76 during the drying operation. One side 77 (FIGS. 47) of theplate 74 connects an angle iron 78 or the like which is connected to arod 79 traversing the lower compartment 39 and sidewall 13 for slidablyremoving the plate 74 from the chute 73 when the bin 12 is used forstorage purposes.

Suspended from the floor support angle irons 47 (FIG. 2) is a framestructure 102 supporting a dispersing unit 103 vertically disposed belowthe aperture 76 and chute 73. The dispersing unit 103 includes ahorizontally disposed plate 104 (FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6) mounted on aV-belt pulley 105 which in turn is rotatably mounted on a verticallydisposed shaft 106. Attached to the upper surface of the plate 104, asby welding, are a plurality of radially disposed blades 107. The pulley105 is rotated by a belt 108 connected to another pulley 109 mounted onthe output shaft end 111 of a motor 97. The motor 97 is mounted by anarm 112 (FIGS. 4 and 7) to the shaft 106, and is held in place so as tomaintain tension on the belt 108 by a bracket 113 which is biasedoutwardly by a spring unit 114. I

Upon grain to be dried being placed in the column 56, and falling intothe chute 73, it will move through the opening 76 and fall onto theplate 104. The plate 104 is sufi'ieiently close to the opening 76 suchthat the grain will build up on the plate 104 until it forms a pile thesides of which have approximately a 30 slope, whereupon the opening 76will be closed off by the grain itself. In effect, the stream of grainattempting to move downwardly through the opening 76 will be shut off bythe grainjamming back up into the opening 76.

The lower compartment 39 (FIG. 2) of the bin 12 is provided with aperforated floor 111 appropriately suspended above a foundation 112.Between the lower floor 111 and foundation 112 is a plenum chamber 113fluidly connected to the exterior of the bin 12 through a hole 114formed in the sidewall 13. A second blower system 116 (FIG. 1) isattached to the outer surface of the wall 13 and is fluidly communicablewith the chamber 113 through the hole 114. Upon energizing the blower116, atmospheric air is forced into the plenum chamber 113 whereupon itpercolates upwardly through the perforated floor 111 and through thedried granular material 11 thereon deposited by the discharge unit 48for cooling and aeration purposes.

At the center of the floor 111, (FIG. 2) a sump opening is formedtherein which is fluidly communicable with the exterior of the bin 12 bya tunnel 117. A auger 118 is axially mounted in the tunnel 117, with oneend 119 thereof belt-connected to a third motor 121 mounted outside thebin 12. The inner end 122 of the auger 118 connects a gear housing unit123 disposed within the sump 115 and operably connects a horizontallydisposed sweep auger 124 rotatably mounted thereto. the sweep auger 124being positioned on top of the lower floor 111.

The granular material feeder motor 34 (FIG. 2), the discharge unit motor97, and the granular material remover motor 121 are controlled by asecond sensing device 126 positioned adjacent the conical base 58. Thegranular material feeder motor 34 is additionally controlled by aconventional normally closed pressure-sensing device 127 attached to thesidewall 13 adjacent the top of the reservoir 54 which automaticallydeenergizes the motor 34 should the granular material 11 reach the levelof the device 127.

The second sensing device 126 (FIG. 9) is provided for controlling therate of flow of the granular material in and out of the bin 12. Itincludes a thermocouple 128 connected to a heat-controlling device 129,a power supply 131, a master switch 132, and a plurality of switches133, 134, 136 for independently energizing the discharge unit motor 97,the granular material remover motor 121, and the granular materialfeeder motor 34 respectively, and a thermostat switch 137. Thecomponents of the sensing device 126 are wired as follows: the negativeterminal of the power supply 131 is connected by a wire 138 to ajunction 139; a wire 141 leads from the junction 139 to one pole of themotor 34, the junction 139 is also connected by wire 142 to a junction143, wherein a wire 144 connects one pole of the motor 121, and a secondwire 146 connects the junction 143 with a pole of the motor 97. Thepositive terminal of the power source 131 connects a junction 147, awire 148 leads from the junction 147 to the master switch 132; anotherwire 148 connects the master switch 132 and heat-controlling device 129,a wire 149 leads from the thermostat switch 137 to a junction 151. Awire 152 leads from the junction 151 to a pole of the motor 97, anotherwire 153 connects the motor 97 to switch 133, which in turn is connectedby wire 154 to junction 156 from which a wire 157 connects junction 147.A third valve 158 connects junction 151 with the motor 121 from a wire161 connected to a pole of motor 121. A second wire 162 connectsjunction 159 with switch 134 which is then connected to junction 163 bya wire 164. Wire 166 connects 163 with junction 156. A third wire 167interconnects junction 159 with junction 168 from which a wire 169connects the pressure device 127 which is then connected to a pole ofmotor 34 by wire 171. A second wire 172 connects the motor 34 to theswitch 136, connected in turn by a wire 173 to junction 163. Thethermocouple 128 is positioned within the conical structure 54 such thatit senses the exhaust temperature which varies from the inputtemperature do to the heat transfer of the granular material 11 and theair in the drying column 56.

In operation, the heat-controlling device 129 is set at a predeterminedvalue and the master switch 132 is manually closed. When the moisturecontent of the granular material is reduced to a predetermined amount,as determined by the temperature control setting device 129, the switch137 closes and the circuit connecting the power supply 131 to the motor97, 121, and 127' is closed. The closing of motors 34, causes the motors97, 121, and 34 to operate, thereby adding granular material 11 to thebin 12 by energizing motor 34, while simultaneously withdrawing driedmaterial 11 from the drying column 56 by energizing motor 97, andevacuating the bin 12 by energizing motor 121. When the temperature isreduced indicating the material 11 is going through the bin 12 tooquickly to be dried to the predetermined value, the thermostat 129opens, thereby opening the circuit and deenergizing the motors 34, 121,and 97. Should the material 11 be fed to the bin 12 faster than it isremoved, the pressure-sensing device 127 breaks the circuit leading tomotor 34 while motors 97, 127 continue. Each motor 97, 121, and 34 isoperable separately and apart from thermostat 129 should such be desiredby the independent switches 133, 134, and 136 respectively.

The sensing device 72 (FIG. 8) is provided for controlling the heatsupplied to the air by the first blower 68. It includes a thermocouple174 connected to a thermostat 176, a power supply 177, a solenoid switch178, a fluid control valve 179, a blower motor 181, a relay 180, and apair of manual switches 182, 183. The components of the sensing device72 are wired as follows: the negative terminal of the power supply 177is connected by a wire 184 to ajunction 186; a wire 187 leads from thejunction 186 to the solenoid 178, thejunction 186 is also connected toone pole of the motor 181 by a wire 188. The positive terminal of thepower supply 177 connects a junction 191 by a wire 189; a wire 192connects the junction 191 to the thermostat 176, the thermostat 176 isthen connected by wire 193 to junction 194. A wire 196 connects thejunction 194 and solenoid 178. A second wire 197 connects the junction194 with a relay 180 which is then connected to junction 198 by wire199. A wire 201 leads from the junction 198 to the pole of the motor181; a second wire 202 connects the junction 198 to the switch 183. Theswitch 183 is then connected by wire 203 to junction 204. The junction204 is interconnected with junction 19] by a wire 206. A second wire 207leads from junction 204 to switch 182. The motor 181 powers the blower68 and the valve 179 is interposed in a fuel line 208, and is operableto regulate the amount of fuel feeding the heating unit (not shown).

In operation, thermostat 176 is normally closed such that valve 179 isopen with fuel flowing to the burner (not shown) and the blower motor181 blowing hot air into the lower compartment 39 below the upper floor36. If the temperature in the bin 12 directly above the drying column 56gets too high, the thermostat 176 will open, thereby deenergizing thesolenoid 178 and closing the valve 179 to shut off the flow of fuel tothe burner. Simultaneously, the blower motor 181 will be deenergized bythe action of the relay 180.

To operate the apparatus 10, (FIG. 2) granular material 11, such ascorn, is supplied to the hopper 19. The motor 34 is started by closingthe switch 136 (FIG. 9) and the corn flows from the hopper 19 into thefeeder 27 which distributes the corn into the annular reservoir 54, thefloor 42 of which is sloped toward the drying column 56, wherein thecorn begins to pile until the reservoir 54 is substantially full,wherein the switch 136 (FIG. 9) is opened and the master switch 132 ismanually closed.

The blower-heater system 68 is manually started by closing the switches182, 183 (FIG. 8) whereby heated air is supplied below the floor 36(FIG. 2) wherein it percolates upwardly through the drying column 56 andthe com 11 as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2. The heated air absorbsthe moisture from the corn 11 and carries it from the bin 12. Uponreaching a predetermined humidity value, the heat-controlling device 129(FIG, 9) closes the circuit energizing the motor 97, thereby dischargingthe dried com 11 from the drying column 56 and evenly distributing thecom 11 about the lower perforated floor 111, while simultaneouslyenergizing the motors 121 and 34.

At this point, the second blower 116 is activated to blow coolatmospheric air into the bin 12 to percolate through the dried com 11upon the lower floor 111 for purposes of cooling and aerating the corn11 preparatory to storage. The atmospheric air undergoes a heat transferwith the cooling, dried corn, which advantageously heats the air, whichthen rises through the drying column 56 augmenting the heated airsupplied by the first blower 68, and exits the bin 12.

Further, upon the activation of the motors 97, 121, and 34, the switches182, 183 (FIG. 8) are opened, thereby putting the heater-blower system68 on automatic control.

As the dried com 11 builds up on the lower floor 111, the sweep auger124 engages it and moves the corn toward the sump for removal from thebin 12 through the tunnel 117 to a nearby storage bin (not shown).

Thus it can be fully appreciated that the apparatus 10 is automated tothe point where constant attention by an attendant is unnecessary. Asthe supply of corn to be dried is exhausted, the heater-blower system 68is automatically deenergized as the temperature of the air passingthrough the drying column 56 is raised to a predetermined value. Whenthe air in the bin l2 cools to a second predetermined value, the controldevice 126 opens the circuit, thereby disengaging the power supply tothe motors 34, 97, and 121. Thus it has been shown that the dryingcapacity of the apparatus 10 is limited only by the supply of com 11delivered thereto and will continuously operate safely in the absence ofa constant vigil by an attendant.

To transform the bin 12 (FIG. 2) from a drying bin to a storage bin, thechute 73 is opened completely by sliding the plate 74 (dotted lines,FIG. 5) into the lower compartment 39, and the annularly spaced hatches44 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the upper floor 36 are opened. By opening theapparatus 19 in this manner, granular material 11 to be stored ispermitted to completely fill the lower compartment 39, chute 73, column56, reservoir 54 and finally to overflow the reservoir 54 and fill theinterior of the funnel structure 57.

Though not shown, it is understood that though the reservoir 54 has alarge capacity, corn 11 may be fed to the hopper 19 by connecting thepower source of the auger 23 (FIG. 1 to the same circuit as the feedmotor 34 to provide a constant supply of com 11 to the apparatus 10.Likewise, a second hopper and auger unit can be connected to the samecircuit as the motor 121 to automatically transfer the com 11 toadjoining storage bins.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described anddisclosed hereinafter, it is to be remembercd that various modificationsand alternate constructions can be made thereto without departing fromthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim: 1. Apparatus for treating granular material in a circularstorage bin having a wall, lower floor, and a device for removing thegranular material from the bin, the apparatus comprising:

an upper conical floor mounted in the bin and adapted to supportgranular material, said floor positioned adjacent the walls and slanteddownwardly and inwardly therefrom toward the axis of the bin, said upperfloor separating said bin into an upper and lower compartment, andfurther wherein the upper portion of said floor is solid and the lowerportion is perforated; funnel means disposed above said upper floor,said funnel means including a circular wall and a perforated conicalbase, said circular wall forming a reservoir with said upper portion ofsaid upper floor for receiving granular material from the feeder, andsaid perforated base forming a drying column with said lower portion ofsaid upper floor; said drying column fluidly communicating with saidreservoir for receiving granular material therefrom;

means for supplying heated air below said upper floor whereby the heatedair percolates through the granular material in said drying column; and

means for discharging said granular material from said column into saidlower compartment to be cooled and removed from the bin.

2. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 1, and further wherein said apparatus includes athermocouple adapted to sense the temperature ofthe grain in said dryingcolumn; and

means responsive to said thermocouple to deenergize said air-supplyingmeans when the temperature of the grain has been raised to apredetermined value.

3. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 1, and further wherein said apparatus includes asensing device for detecting the temperature of the air passed throughthe drying column; and

means responsive to said sensing device for selectively controlling theoperation of said discharge means and the operation of the device forremoving the granular material from the bin.

4. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 1, wherein said upper floor includes a plurality ofhatches pivotally connected to said floor about the periphery thereof,said hatches operable in one position to extend said floor to the binwall and in a second position to permit the grain to feed directly intosaid lower compartment.

5. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 4 wherein said hatches are annularly spaced aboutthe periphery of said floor.

6. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim I wherein said perforated base connects to thebottom edge of said circular wall, said base extending parallel to saidlower portion of said upper floor and being vertically spaced therefrom.

7. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 6 wherein said funnel means includes an openingformed in said base fluidly communicating the interior of said funnelmeans with said discharge means, said opening having a removable cover.

8. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 1, wherein said air-supplying means includes ablower-heater unit mounted on the bin wall and a vent fluidlycommunicating said unit and said lower compartment of the bin.

9. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 8, and further wherein said vent has an elbow fordirecting the air substantially parallel to the side of the bin.

10. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storagebin as defined in claim 1, wherein said discharge means includes a chuteconnecting said upper floor at the apex thereof and depending downwardlytherefrom, said chute fluidly communicating said drying column and saidlower compartment, and funnelling the granular material thereto.

1]. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storagebin as defined in claim 10, and further wherein said discharge meansincludes a dispersing unit disposed beneath said chute, said dispersingunit capable of engaging and distrlbuting granular material from saidchute evenly about the bin lower floor.

12. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storagebin as defined in claim 11 wherein said dispersing unit is a rotatingspinner.

1. Apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bInhaving a wall, lower floor, and a device for removing the granularmaterial from the bin, the apparatus comprising: an upper conical floormounted in the bin and adapted to support granular material, said floorpositioned adjacent the walls and slanted downwardly and inwardlytherefrom toward the axis of the bin, said upper floor separating saidbin into an upper and lower compartment, and further wherein the upperportion of said floor is solid and the lower portion is perforated;funnel means disposed above said upper floor, said funnel meansincluding a circular wall and a perforated conical base, said circularwall forming a reservoir with said upper portion of said upper floor forreceiving granular material from the feeder, and said perforated baseforming a drying column with said lower portion of said upper floor;said drying column fluidly communicating with said reservoir forreceiving granular material therefrom; means for supplying heated airbelow said upper floor whereby the heated air percolates through thegranular material in said drying column; and means for discharging saidgranular material from said column into said lower compartment to becooled and removed from the bin.
 2. An apparatus for treating granularmaterial in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1, and furtherwherein said apparatus includes a thermocouple adapted to sense thetemperature of the grain in said drying column; and means responsive tosaid thermocouple to deenergize said air-supplying means when thetemperature of the grain has been raised to a predetermined value.
 3. Anapparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage bin asdefined in claim 1, and further wherein said apparatus includes asensing device for detecting the temperature of the air passed throughthe drying column; and means responsive to said sensing device forselectively controlling the operation of said discharge means and theoperation of the device for removing the granular material from the bin.4. An apparatus for treating granular material in a circular storage binas defined in claim 1, wherein said upper floor includes a plurality ofhatches pivotally connected to said floor about the periphery thereof,said hatches operable in one position to extend said floor to the binwall and in a second position to permit the grain to feed directly intosaid lower compartment.
 5. An apparatus for treating granular materialin a circular storage bin as defined in claim 4 wherein said hatches areannularly spaced about the periphery of said floor.
 6. An apparatus fortreating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim1 wherein said perforated base connects to the bottom edge of saidcircular wall, said base extending parallel to said lower portion ofsaid upper floor and being vertically spaced therefrom.
 7. An apparatusfor treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined inclaim 6 wherein said funnel means includes an opening formed in saidbase fluidly communicating the interior of said funnel means with saiddischarge means, said opening having a removable cover.
 8. An apparatusfor treating granular material in a circular storage bin as defined inclaim 1, wherein said air-supplying means includes a blower-heater unitmounted on the bin wall and a vent fluidly communicating said unit andsaid lower compartment of the bin.
 9. An apparatus for treating granularmaterial in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 8, and furtherwherein said vent has an elbow for directing the air substantiallyparallel to the side of the bin.
 10. An apparatus for treating granularmaterial in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 1, wherein saiddischarge means includes a chute connecting said upper floor at the apexthereof and depending downwardly therefrom, said chute fluidlycommunicating said drying column and said lower compartment, andfunnelling the granular material thereto.
 11. An apparatus for tReatinggranular material in a circular storage bin as defined in claim 10, andfurther wherein said discharge means includes a dispersing unit disposedbeneath said chute, said dispersing unit capable of engaging anddistributing granular material from said chute evenly about the binlower floor.
 12. An apparatus for treating granular material in acircular storage bin as defined in claim 11 wherein said dispersing unitis a rotating spinner.